COVENTRY and Warwickshire firms are joining forces with local schools and colleges in a bid to bridge the gap between education and employment.

A number of businesses across the region have pledged their support to the Career Academies UK initiative – with the aim of helping the next generation of workers.

The most recent firm to sign up to the scheme is chartered accountants and financial experts Harrison Beale and Owen, which has offices in Coventry and Leamington.

A Career Academy brings together employers, schools and colleges to help 16 to 19-year-olds progress to higher education or the world of work with a rigorous two-year programme alongside a curriculum equivalent to at least three A-levels.

There are currently four Career Academies in Coventry and one in Nuneaton which are run by affiliated schools and colleges registered through charity Career Academies UK.

HB&O has agreed to support the scheme by offering six-week paid internships to students.

Michelle Vincent, from HB&O, became aware of Career Academies through her work with professional business organisation Coventry and Warwickshire First.

She said: “We are committed to developing the next generation of professionals so we felt it was important to support Career Academies UK.

“We decided to offer internships of six weeks because, unlike short-term work experience, we felt this allowed the intern to gain a decent understanding of the workplace while picking up some valuable knowledge and skills along the way.

“Schemes like this are an important way of bridging the gap between employment and education. It can also be a valuable method of talent identification as all interns must pass through an application process.

“Immersing students in a working environment also provides them with real-world experience and can help them develop professionally and personally.”

The first student to benefit from the support of HB&O was 18-year-old Daniel Vaz from Walsgrave in Coventry, who travelled to the firm’s Leamington office in Highdown Road to work with the team’s cost reduction department for the duration of his internship.

Daniel, who is a business studies student at City College, said: “I would certainly recommend the Career Academies route to others.

“What I have learned during my time with HB&O is very different to what can be taught in college.

“I have realised that accountancy is not all about figures and balance sheets – there’s so much more involved.

“I have been going out and meeting clients with the team and I think, as well as developing my work skills, I am a lot more confident than I was before.

“I have also learned about all of the potential routes into accountancy and I feel that I now have knowledge and understanding of the profession that I would not have had without this internship.”

Aside from offering internships, businesses can become involved in Career Academies in a wide range of ways including mentoring, hosting visits or seminars and by holding lectures.